Are you thinking about hiring legal counsel for your business? Maybe you're growing faster than anticipated, or perhaps you are confused about legal matters impacting your business. Whatever the reason, hiring an in-house lawyer makes sense, but where should you start?
What is a legal counsel?
An in-house legal counsel provides advice on legal matters concerning the business. The guidance from a legal counsel helps the firms to decide whether or not to take action on a particular issue that may have legal implications.
Importance of hiring a legal counsel
Whether you are established or just starting, hiring legal counsel is essential for any business to avoid costly mistakes and ensure that you have protected your interests in all aspects of your business.
For a start-up, it is crucial to make sure that you are protected, legally. Legal counsel will guarantee that your business has the correct documents and agreements when dealing with suppliers, clients, and employees. They can also ensure that you take steps to protect your IP, such as your website and logo design.
A lawyer can assist you in reviewing contracts before signing them, reducing the risk of any legal disputes arising from non-compliance or breach of contract by either party. They can ensure that you are taking steps to avoid any potential litigations or lawsuits that may arise from issues such as safety regulations or employment laws.
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Steps to hire a legal counsel
Write a job description
Identify the sort of legal counsel you need based on the size of your business, industry, and goals for the future. Note the requirements regarding the experience and qualities you want in your legal counsel based on these factors. You should also be clear about your role to attract the relevant candidate.
Post the position
Post the job on social media, networking sites or other legal channels. Reach out to people in your network for recommendations or suggestions. You also can use recruiters who specialise in finding ideal candidates, which can come at a fee but will ensure you save time and get a qualified candidate.
Interview the ideal candidate
Think about the experiences and qualities you want in your legal counsel and ask the relevant questions to gauge the candidate's suitability. Ask how they have dealt with past complex legal matters, motivation, and critical thinking skills. Find out what the candidate wishes to get out of this role to judge if the position will be stimulating for them.
You must build trust in the relationship with your legal counsel, given the importance of their role. It is always helpful to get a second opinion from someone else in the business to assess candidate suitability.
Extend the job offer
Send an offer of employment to your chosen candidate. The offer letter will cover what the employee and employer want to agree on, define both parties' obligations and rights, and outline any particular terms.
Get your paperwork in line
Once the ideal candidate has accepted the offer, it is time to draft their employment contract.
Legislate can help you create lawyer approved contracts on no legal budget.
To create your employment agreement, create a Legislate account and select the employment agreement from available contracts. Set the terms of the agreement and invite the employee to e-sign the contract directly from Legislate. Watch a Legislate tutorial on the employment contract creation process.
The opinions on this page are for general information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice on which you should rely.